Toy



' P. R. LONGNECKER Jan. '19, 1943.

- TOY Filed April 2; 1941 v June/aim Paul R.L0ngnecker "I317. M .M

Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE TOY Paul R. Longnecker, Upper Darby, Pa.

Application April 2, 1941, Serial No. 386,536

6 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and has particular reference to a toy vehicle or the like which is collapsible for the purpose of simulating a wreck or other destructive event.

As embodied herein, the invention comprises a pair of toy automobiles or similar vehicles which are tethered together by means of a suitable length of rubber band in order that they may be propelled rapidly toward each other upon tensioning and release of their, connecting band. One or both of the toy vehicle members is formed from a plurality of independent components arranged in a knock-down or collapsible manner so' that collision of the pair will produce an auto wreck, for example, delighting the juvenile operator.

To these ends, it is an object of the present invention to provide an articulated, collapsible toy vehicle of simple and inexpensive form. In addition to simplicity in manufacture, the collapsible toy, which will be more fully described, possesses an ease of assembly which brings it within the range of intelligence and dexterity of children from four to eight years of age.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood and appreciated from reading the following detailed description of a specific embodiment in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of two toy automobiles connected by a resilient band, and showing in dotted line form the collapse of one automobile; and

Fig. 2 is an exploded side elevation in perspective of the knock-down unit.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, It! indicates an ordinary toy automobile or similar vehicle of conventional construction, such as rubber, metal, or plastic. On the underside of automobile l and centrally thereof on a longitudinal center line, a fastening I2, as a tack or peg, secures an end of a resilient member l4 comprising a length of rubber band. A collapsible or knock-down automobile N5, of substantially the same size as automobile I6, is likewise provided with a central fastening l8 on its under side for retaining the other end of the rubber band l4.

The automobile I6 is made up of a number of independent components. Referring to Fig. 2, there is a rear body section 20 which includes a pair of rotatable rear wheels .22, 22, and a front body-and-ho'od section 24 having a pair of rotat able front wheels 26, 25. An intermediate or tonneau-and-top section 28 and a shell-like, radiator grille and bumper unit 36 complete the vehicle IS,

The wheeled rear and front body sections and 24 are articulated at the bottom of the vehicle I 6 by a transverse, rockable and separable joint 32 formed by a wide V ridge 34 on the front end of section 20 and a corresponding abutting V notch 36 on the rear end of front section 24.

A specially shaped space 33 intermediate the front and rear sections 24 and 26, respectively, is complementary to the lower portion of the tonneau and top section 26. In Fig. 2, attention is now directed to a longitudinally rounded portion 40 merging with a reversely curved rear face 42 and a forwardly and upwardly inclined front underface 44, all on the lower part of intermediate section 28. When all three sections, 20, 24,

, and 28 are properly articulated, as shown in Fig. 1, the intermediate section 28 is fairly well looked at its forward end against vertical dis-. lodgement. This suggests that the intermediate tonneau and top section 28 will be inserted in place either by lateral sliding in space 38 or preliminary insertion of its forward end into mating relation with front body section 24.

However, it will be obvious that, by reason of a short, tensioned rubber band 46 connected by one end to an eye 48 anchored in rear section 20 and by its other end to a similar eye or the like 56 secured tofront section 24 in an opposed position, the joint 32 may be conveniently separated a bit.

A particular additional feature of the intermediate body section 28 is a longitudinallyextending groove or recess portion 52 in its bottom, coextensive in length with the rounded portion 40, and arranged loosely to accommodate the short tension band 46 which normally holds together all body components of automobile 26.

The front body section 24 is provided with an integral ledge or transversely extending bumper support 54. A grooved portion 56 in the grille 36 slips snugly but not tightly over support 54 to retain a radiator grille portion 58 detachably against the corresponding part of the hood of front body section 24, and produce the effect of a contrasting metal bumper.

In ordinary operation, the toy vehicles l6 and I6 of Fig. 1 will be grasped in the respective hands of an operator and separated in upright position on a plane surface until a desired amount of tension is obtained in their connecting rubber band l4. Simultaneous release of the vehicles l0 and [6 will produce a head-on collision and collapse of vehicle I6 of the character indicated in the dotted line showing of Fig. l in which the intermediate section 28 and grille 30 have separated completely and the front and rear sections 24 and 20 are partially separated and misaligned.

It will be obvious that extension of connection band 46, alignment of joint 32 between the front and rear sections 24 and 20, and insertion of the intermediate section 28 is all that is necessary to reassemble the collapsible member I6. The detachable grille and bumper unit 30 may be readily pushed on over bumper support 54.

The sound effect of the collision is enhanced by the preferred wood composition of collapsible vehicle l6, although a molded plastic material would produce a comparable result.

It is contemplated that the collapsible vehicle or automobile units will be sold separately so that they may be combined with any similar vehicle or toy which the purchaser possesses.

Obviously, the collapsible vehicle [6 may be propelled in a variety of ways, such as by hand, or an inclined plane, against a wall or other relatively inert object, to produce collapse and repeated simulation of a wreck, but it now appears that the indicated mode of operation with tetrered vehicles will be preferred.

Since the broad principles of this invention can be embodied in many forms in addition to that disclosed herein, it is not intended that the invention should be limited to any specific construction and arrangement of parts, except as may be required by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A toy comprising two individual members each of which is constructed to resemble a vehicle, at least one of .said members including a plurality of independent components arranged in assembled relation and constructed and arranged to collapse when that member is struck; and a resilient member having its opposite ends respectively connected to the two vehicle members, whereby tensioning of the resilient member and release of the vehicle members will produce a collision and collapse the vehicle member having assembled components.

2. A toy comprising two individual members each of which is constructed to resemble a wheeled vehicle, at least one of said members including a plurality of independent interfitted components arranged in assembled relation and constructed and arranged to collapse when that member is struck by the other; a length of rubber band having its opposite ends respectively connected to the undersides of the two vehicle members at points on their longitudinal center lines, whereby tensioning of the rubber band and release of the vehicle members will produce a head-on collision and collapse the vehicle member having assembled components; and a grille member detachably fitted to a colliding end of one vehicle member.

3. A collapsible toy vehicle comprising, in combination, a. wheeled front section; a wheeled rear section; an intermediate section, all of said sections being separable and shaped to interfit in predetermined relation defining a vehicle of selected type; and a resilient, tension band connected to the front and rear sections to maintain the sections in assembled relation and adapted to yield readily when the vehicle is subjected to sharp impact.

4. As an article of manufacture and sale, a toy vehicle including two end components and an interfitting intermediate component; and a resilient band urging the two end components against the intermediate component of the vehicle, said intermediate vehicle component having a groove therein formed and arranged to provide free passage for the resilient band.

5. As an article of manufacture and sale, a toy automobile vehicle including separable, articulated front and rear body sections and an interfitting intermediate section, a resilient band connected by opposite ends to the front and rear sections respectively, and normally urging them into articulated relation and against the intermediate section of the automobile vehicle, said intermediate vehicle section having a groove therein formed and arranged to provide free passage for the resilient band.

6. As an article of manufacture and sale, a toy automobile including separable front and rear body sections and an interfitting intermediate section, said front and rear sections having a transverse, rockable joint at their abutting ends; and a resilient member normally holding together the joint between the front and rear sections, and said sections against the intermediate section of the automobile, said intermediate automobile section being formed and arranged to accommodate the resilient member.

PAUL R. LONGNECKER. 

